Engine starter



May 31, 1938. R. M. NARDONE 2,119,138

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May 31, 1938. R. M; NARDONE 2,119,138

' ENGINE STARTER Filed June 20,1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fromeo M. Nardo/7e May 31, 1938. R. M. NARDONE.

ENGINE STARTER Filed June zo, 1932 s Sheets-sheet s INVENTOR.

Romeo M. Nardo/7e BY 4t Q2/AHM@ Patented May 31, 1938 ENGINE STARTER Romeo M. Nardonc, East Orange, N. J., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 20, 1932, Serial No. 618,395

16 Claims. (Cl. '12S-179) This invention relates to starters for internal Acombustion engines, and more particularly to starters ofthe electric inertia type.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel engine starter which is particularly adapted for usein cranking large highcompression engines such as are in present use on high-powered trucks and buses.

Another object is to provide an engine starter employing novel means for -transmitting the energy stored in a high speed flywheel to a member of an engine to be started.

A further object is to provide a novel driving unit for drivably connecting an engine starter to a member of an engine to be started.

Other object-s include the provision of novel means for interrupting or preventing the transmission of torque during the energy storing interval, and novel means for quickly stopping the high speed flywheel after the engine has been started.

The above and further objects and novel features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had primarily for this purpose to the appended claims. i

In the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a starter embodying the present invention ;l X

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 2-.2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in section, showing a detail which is common to both embodiments, and which is to be considered as an integral part of either the starter assembly shown in Fig.,1 or the starter assembly shown in Fig..3.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a modification of the invention.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l and 2 comprises a housing 6 having a pair of end cover plates 1 and 8. An electric motor 8 is mounted in the outer end of housing 6 and is provided with a hollowshaft I0 upon which are mounted the motor armature II and an inertia flywheel I2, thev latter being drivably con-v nected thereto by any suitable means such as a key I2a.

In order to reduce the, overall lengthy of the starter, reduction gearing and ove'rload release means for such gearing are mounted within the overhanging rim of iiywheel I2. As shown, the. reduction gearing is .constitute-d by a plurality of planetary gear members I4, preferably three, spaced at 120 degree intervals, rotatably mounted on stub shafts I5 that are supported by a ring I6 which is rotatably mounted on shaft I0 by means such as a ball bearing I'I. Gears I4 mesh with a pinion I8 splined to shaft I0, and with an internal gear I9 which is rotatably mounted on the inner end of shaft IIJ by means such as ball bearing 28.

Preferably, overload releasing means in the form of a friction disc clutch are provided to protect the above gearing and other elements 'of the starter from damage due to sudden shocks and overloads imparted thereto. As slfown, this clutch comprises a plurality of friction discs 2l, one-half of which are splined to the outer periphery of ring 4 I6 and alternate with the other half of said discs which are splined to the inner pe- 25 riphery of cylindrical member 22 that is held in operative position by means of an outwardly extending ange 24 secured as by means of bolts between housing 6 and cover plate 8.

The discs 2l are positioned between an internal 80 flange 21 on member 22 and an annular series, of coil springs 25 which bear at their outer ends against the bottom of a flanged cup-shaped adjusting member 26 threaded onto the cylindrical portion of member 22, whereby the slippage load of the clutch discs 2I may be adjusted. For adjusting cylinder 26 and hence the tension of springs 25, said cylinder is provided on its inner end with a notched flange accessible through a hand hole 28 in housing 8. A clip 29 removably secured to cylinder 22 is provided for engagel ment with a suitable notch in the flange of member 26 whereby the latter may be locked in ady justed position.

In cranking engines of the character referred to above, it is desirable to establish the engagement of the starter with the flywheel gear of the engine. If such a drive be permanently connected to the reduction gearing and flywheel, the engagement with the engine flywheel gear would be automatically effected a's soon as the motor is energized and before suflicient energy was stored in flywheel I2 to overcome the inertia of the parts of the engine to be started. Accordingly, means are provided for interrupting the transmission of 55.

torque from the reduction gearing to the drivingA unit until flywheellZ has been brought up t0 speed. In the form shown, such means are constituted by a self-energizing friction clutch comprising a drum 3| fixed to internal gear |9 by means of bolts or rivets 32 and adapted to be frictionally engaged on its inner periphery by a pair of arcuate shoes 33 (Fig. 2)

The friction shoes 33 are drivably connected to a shaft 34 which is rotatably supported at its outer end by a bearing .8a mounted centrally of cover plate 8 and at its inner end by a bearing 36a mounted in a bracket 36 formed integral with a supporting spider 3l. 'I'he latter is adapted to be attached to the crankcase of an engine as by bolts 36h and the starter is in turn secured to the spider as by means of bolts 31a. As illustrated, shoes 33 are mounted on a sleeve 38 Splined, or otherwise drivably connected, to a shaft 34in the plane of bearing 8a. Sleeve 38 is provided with a pair of laterally extending. diametrically disposed ears 38a which carry bolts 39 on which shoes 33 are pivotally mounted and retained as by means of nuts 39a. The pivots of shoes 33 are thus offset from the center of rotation of drum 3|.

Novel means are provided for movingshoes 33 into engagement with drum 3|. and such means,

as illustrated, comprise a rod 40 slidably mounted within hollow armature shaft I0. Said rod is adapted to be actuated by a lever 4| which operatively engages the outer end thereof and is piv, oted on a bracket 42 suitably attached to cover plate 1. 'Ihe inner end of rod 48 has a conical portion 40a adapted to engage beveled portions 40h of the webs of shoes 33 at a point midway between pivots 39 and is eiective, when moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, to impart to said shoes a camming action whereby the latter are moved into engagement with drum 3|. Suitable springs 43 are attached to a portion of the web near the pivot of each shoe and to the free end of the other shoe thereby tending to hold said shoes out of engagement with drum 3|. It will be noted that the above-.described clutch is of the self-energizing type and during clockwise rotation of drum 3| and after shoes 33 have been moved by means of rod 40 into engagement with the drum, the latter tends to move shoes 33 into closer frictional relationship.

A novel drive unit is provided vfor automatically connecting the mechanism described above to a member of an engine on which said starter is mounted'and, as shown, such unit consists oi' an internally threaded sleeve 44 adapted to be mounted on a threaded portion of shaft 34 for rotary and longitudinal movement thereon. Splined to sleeve 44 for longitudinal movement relative thereto and rotary movement therewith is a pinion 45. For yieldingly resisting relative.

rotation, due to their inertia, -and are thereby caused to ,move longitudinally to the right on shaft pand into engagement with the engine flywheefgear 4l. To prevent movement o f sleeve 44 and pinion 45 Vyalong shaft 34 into engagement with lgear 46 when the startet is not in use, a light anti-drift spring 49 is interposed between said sleeve and a stop nut 50, secured t. shaft 34 adjacent the outer bearing 36a therefor.

A cycle of operation is as follows: Beginning with the parts in their normal positions as shown in Fig. 1, the motor 9 is energized from a suitable source of electrical energy (not shown), whereupon shaft I0 and flywheel |2 are rotated. Pinion I8 is eective to rotate planetary gear members I4 which, in turn, rotate internal gear I9 and drum 3|. Flywheel I2 is quickly'brought up to speed while shoes 33 and the associated driving unit remain stationary. When sufcient energy has been built up in flywheel l2, the lower end of lever 4| is moved to the left, thus moving rod 40 to the right and shoes 33 radially into driving engagement with drum 3i whereby shaft 34 is rotated. Upon the initial rotation of shaft 34, the inertia of driving unit 44, 45l causes said unit to move longitudinally on shaft 34, compressing spring 49, whereby pinion 45 meshes with flywheel gear 48 and engages stop nut 50. The driving unit now rotates with shaft 34 and the engine is cranked. When the engine starts, flywheel gear 48 will drive pinion 45 and this overrunning action will return the driving unit to the demeshed position shown in Fig. 1.

The self-energizing cl'utch tends to form a posi- 'tive driving connection between the flywheel and the driving unit but the various elements of the starter are protected from overloads by the preset clutch 2|, 22, 26, which may be accurately adjusted to transmit a desired amount of torque. In the event the teeth of pinion 45 abut the teeth of gear 48, spring 46 yields and the resulting relative movement between sleeve 44 and said pinion prevents damage to the teeth while the latter-are being brought into register.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the starter is shown as comprising a housing constituted by a motor casing 5|, a flywheel casing 52, and a clutch casing 53 which are suitably joined together by means such as bolts or screws 54 and 55. The armature shaft 56 of the motor extends into casing 62 and is supported therein by a web 51 integral with said casing 52. Preferably, the web is provided with a cylindrical portion which extends into the space dened by the overhanging rim of the flywheel. the extending portion of said web being eccentrically disposed with respect to the flywheel and being tted with a ball bearing to rotatably support shaft 56. Flywheel |2a and a pinion 59 ,are drivably mounted on shaft 56 on opposite sides of bearing 58, said pinion vbeing in mesh with and adapted to drive an internal spur gear 60.

Novel means are provided for rotatably mounting gear 60 in operative engagement with pinion 59. As shown, said means comprises a stationary shaft 62 having an upper portion 62a which is parallel to, but laterally displaced from, the axis of-shaft 56, anda lower portion 62h which is similarly disposed with respect to both shaft 56 and portion 62a, the two portions being rigidly connected by an arm 62, the three parts of the shaft constituting, in appearance only, a crank. The lower portion 62h is rigidly secured to web 51 below shaft 56, while the upper portion 62a carries ball bearings for rotatably supporting the laterally extending hub 8| ofinternal gear 60 whereby the latter is maintained in operative engagement with pinion 59.

The overload releasing means consisting of a .friction disc clutch is, in this embodiment, in-

serted. in the direct line'of torque transmission from the motor to the engine. As illustrated, this clutch is constituted by a plurality of friction discs B3, one half of which are interiorly splined to an external flange '64 on hub 6|, and alternating therewith are the other half of said discs which are exteriorly splined to the inner periphery of a cylinder 65. Discs 63 are interposed between a plate 66 which is attached to, and extends radially from, the inner face of flange 64 and an annularseries of coil springs 61, the outer ends of which bear against an internal flange on an adjusting cup 68 threadedly received by the cylinder 65. A locking member 68a engages the notched periphery of cup 68 for maintaining the latter in adjusted position.

Bearing against plate'66 and secured to a flangeon cylinder 65 is a drum 69 which is adapted to be frictionally engaged at its inner periphery by a pair of friction clutch shoes 19. The latter are pivotally mounted by means of pins 1| (Fig. 4) carried by a flange 12 of a sleeve 13 which is drivably connected to a shaft 14 by suitable means such as splines. Said shaft is adapted to be rotated by shoes when the latter are driven by drum 69 in a manner to be described hereafter.

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Shaft 14 is journaled adjacent its outer end in a bearing in an end plate or web 15 formed integral with the inner end of housing 53, the inner end of said shaft being journaled in a bearing carried by a bracket 16 formed integral with a disc 11 that is adapted to be secured to the engine crankcase (not shown) by means of bolts 18.

Disc 11 is removably secured to clutch casing 53 as by means of bolts 19, and constitutes the connecting member between the engine crankcase and the starter.

thereof on pins 8| which bridge diametrically disposed slots 82 in flange 12. The outer ends of said dogs engage the web portions of shoes 10 while the inner ends of said dogs have engagement witha collar 83 slidably mounted on the outer periphery of an outwardly projecting cylinder or flange 15a carried by end plate 15. Collar 83 is adapted to be so moved longitudinallyof cylinder 15a by a fork 84 which operatively engages an external groove in said collar 4and is adapted to be actuated by a shaft 85 that extends outwardly through housing 53 and is' provided with suitable means (not shown) for rocking the same. Longitudinal movement of sleeve 83 to the left (Fig. 3) is effective to swing dogs 8|) about" pins 8| whereby shoes 10 will be swung about pins 1| into engagement with drum 69. Springs 86 attached at the pivot point of each of shoes 19 to the web portion of the other oppose such movement of the shoes and normally hold .the

latter out of driving engagement with the drum. Preferably, automatic means are provided for drivably connecting the shaft 14 to a member of an engine and, as shown, said means comprise a pinion 81 threaded on said shaft and provided with an inertia ring 81a on .the -outer end thereof.y Coaction of the threads on shaft 14 with those on pinion 81 is eiective to move the latter into mesh with the engine ywheel gear 88 whereby the latter may be rotated and the engine cranked and started.

18 outwardly into frictional engagement with drum 69. A rotational movement is now imparted to shoes 1U .and thence to shaft 14. Upon the initial rotation of shaft 14, the pinion 81,- due'to the inertia of ring 81a, moves to the right into engagement with flywheel gear 88. When the engine starts and pinion 81 is driven faster thanV shaft 14, said pinion will be moved to the left out of engagement with flywheel gear 88.

The large amount of energy built up in flywheel |2'or |2a is not, as a rule, completely dissipated in cranking an engine, and it is desirable in certain installations to provide some means, other than the friction of the starter parts, whereby this remaining energy may be quickly dissipated, thus reducing the wear on the parts.

Novel braking means have, therefore, been provided for stoppingflywheel |2 or |2a after the engine has started. One form of such means is shown in both Figs. 3 and 5 as comprising a brake shoe 89 adapted to frictionally engage the periphery of flywheel I2 or |2a through a suitable opening in housing -6.` The outer end of shoe 89 is operatively attached to the forked end of a right angle lever 90 pivoted at its lower end to housing 6.

Electro-magnetic means are preferably provided for rocking lever 90 about its pivot, whereby shoe 89 may be lifted out of engagement with flywheel I2 or |2a. A magnet coil 9| is shown mounted on housing 6 by means of bracket 92 and is provided with a plunger or core, 93. The latter isfastened to, and adapted-to actuate, a rod 94 which is suitably attached at one end to lever 90 for operating brake shoe 89. Coil 9| is also provided with a stationary softiron core 95 which extendssubstantially one-half the length o-f the coil and is effective to attract plunger 93 when said coil is energized. The other end of rod 94 slidably extends through core 95.and has mounted thereon a contact arm 96 adapted to bridge a pair of contacts 9.1, 98 for closing a circuit to motor 9 or 9a. For the purpose of nor-- mally holding contacts 91, 98 open, 'and applying brake shoe 89 to flywheel |2 or |2a'; a coil spring 99 is interposed between core 95 and plunger 93.

When the starter is to'be used, coil 9| is ener'- gized from a suitable electrical source (not shown), whereupon plunger 93 is attracted by core 95 against the tension of spring 99. As rod 94 moves to the left, lever 90 is swung about its pivot, thus raising shoe 89` out vof engagement with flywheel I2. Simultaneously, arm 96 is moved into contact with terminals 91, 98, thus closing the circuit to motor 9 for energizing the same.l After the starter has performed its function, the circuit to coil 9| may be opened and spring 99 will move rod 94 to the right, thereby opening the circuit through contacts 91, 98 and moving shoe 89 into engagement with flywheel I2, whereby the latter is quickly brought to rest.

Electro-magnetic means` may also be provided -for -effecting the driving engagement of the memof the illustrated embodiments. One form of such means as applied to the-rst embodiment- (Fig. 1) is 4shown in Fig. 6 and comprises an electro-magnetic unit substantially the same as the one described for actuating the brake shoe fixed pivot on a stationary bracket |I and its upper end is in operative engagement with rod 40 of Fig. 1. Thus, when coil 9| is energized, plunger 93', together with rod 94', moves tothe left rotating lever |00 in a clockwise direction, thereby moving rod 40 to the right. The movement of the latter to the right is effective, as explained above for rod 40, to complete the line of torque transmission from the starter motor and flywheel to the driving unit 44, 45.

If desired, the movement of plunger 93' to the left may be made effective to break the circuit to motor 9, thereby de-energizing the latter'and placing the entire cranking load upon flywheel I2.

There' is thus provided a novel electric inertia starter which is particularly adapted for use in cranking large engines. Novel gearing mounted within a hollow portion of the inertia flywheel addsto thelightness and compactness of the starter structure while at the same time making it a sturdy, heavy duty unit. While there has been shown and described only two embodiments of the invention, it is to be expressly understoodl that the same is not limited thereby but that various changes may be made in the mechanical details and arrangement of parts illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference will primarily be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention. i

For claims to the flywheel brake and other features disclosed but not claimed, reference is to be had to my co-'pending application No. 147,768, led June 11, 1937.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, an` electric motor having a shaft, reduction gearing adapted to be driven by said shaft, a flywheel drivably mounted on said shaft and surrounding said gearing, means' including a self-energizing clutch for transmitting torque from said gearing to a member of an engine to be started, and a second clutch interposed between said flywheel and said first-named clutch for absorbing shocks and overloads.

2. In apparatus of the class described, an electric motor, a 'shaft adapted to be driven by said motor, a flywheel mounted on said shaft for rotary movement therewith, reduction gearing mounted within the rim of the flywheel and drivably connected to said shaft, means including a plurality of friction clutches for transmitting power from saidreduction gearing to a member of an engine to be started, one of said clutches being normally disengaged, means for rendering said last-named clutch operative, and engine engaging means driven by the last-named clutch.

3. In a engine starter, a motor having a shaft,

a flywheel on said shaft, reduction gearing sub- 4. In an engine starter, a motor having a shaft, Y

a flywheel on said shaft, reduction gearing substantially surrounded by said flywheel and drivably connected to said shaft, a driven shaft, two friction clutches interposed between said gearing` and said driven shaft,'reslient means for disengaging one of said clutches, positive means for engaging said last-named clutch, a pinion on said shaft adapted to engage and drive a member of an engine, and frictional means for stopping said flywheel after said engine starts.

5. In apparatus of the class described, an electric motor having a shaft, a flywheel drivably mounted on said shaft, reduction gearing adapted to be driven by said shaft, a driven shaft, a pair of friction clutches interposed between said reduction gearing and said driven shaft, one of said clutches being adapted to transmit energy from said gearing to the other Yof said clutches up to a predetermined load value, resilient means for normally disengaging the other of said clutches, and positive means for engaging said lastnamed clutch for establishing a driving connection between said reduction gearing and said driven shaft.

6. In an engine starter wherein an electric motor is adapted to build up energy in a flywheel and wherein the energy of said flywheel is adapt- .ed to be transmitted by reduction gearing to a member of an engine to be started, the combination with said gearing of a friction clutch comprising a drum drivably connected to said gearing, a plurality of arcuate shoes adapted to frictionally engage said drumresilient meansfor holding said shoes out of engagement with said drum, and means for moving said shoes into driving engagement with said drum, said last-named means including a plurality of plvotally mounted dogs positioned adjacent said shoes and having engagement therewith, one end of each of said dogs engaging one of said shoes, a slidably mounted collar engaging the other end of each of said dogs, and means for axially moving said collar to swing said dogs on their pivots whereby said shoes are moved into engagement with said drum.

7. In an engine starter having a flywheel drivably connected through reduction gearing to a member of an engine to be started, the combination with said gearing of. a friction clutch comprising a drum drivably connected to said gearing, a plurality .of arcuate shoes adapted to frictionally engage said drum, resilient means for holding said shoes out of engagement with said drum, and means for moving said shoes into driving engagement with said drum, said last named means including a plurality of plvotally mounted dogs positioned'adjacent said shoes and having engagement therewith, one end of each of said dogs engaging one of said shoes, a slidably mounted collar engaging the other end of each of said dogs, and means for axially moving said collar to swing said dogs on their pivots whereby said shoes are moved into engagement with said drum.

8. In an engine starter having a driving member drivably connected through reduction gearing to a member of the engine to be started, the combination with said gearing of a friction clutch comprising a drum drivably connected to said gearing, a plurality of arcuate shoes adapted to frictionally engage said drum, resilient neans for holding said shoesout of engagement with said drum, means for moving said shoes into driving engagement with said drum, said last named `means including a plurality of piovtally mounted dogs positioned adjacent said shoes and having engagement therewith, one end of each of said dogs engaging one of said shoes, a slidably mounted collar engaging the other end of each of said dogs, and means for axially moving said collar to swing said dogs on their pivots whereby said shoes are moved into engagement with said drum.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a. driving shaft, reduction gearing adapted to be driven by said shaft, a flywheel drivably mounted on said shaft and surrounding said gearing, means including a self-energizing clutch for transmitting torque from said gearing to a member of an engine to be started, and a second clutch interposed between said flywheel and said first-named clutch for absorbing shocks and overloads.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a driving shaft, a flywheel mounted on said shaft for rotary movement therewith, reduction gearing mounted Within the rim ofthe flywheel and drivably connected to said shaft, means including a plurality of friction clutches for transmitting power from said reduction gearing to a member of an engine to be started, one of said clutches being normally disengaged, means for rendering said last-named clutch operative, and engine engaging means driven by the last-named clutch.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a driving shaft, a flywheel mounted on said shaft for rotary movement therewith, reduction gearing drivably connected to said shaft, means including a plurality of friction clutches for transmitting power from said reduction gearing to a member of an engine to be started, one of said clutches being normally disengaged, means for rendering said last-named clutch operative, and engine engaging means driven by the last-named clutch.

12. In anengine starter, a driving shaft, afiy- Wheel on said shaft, reduction gearing substantially surrounded by said flywheel and adapted to be driven by said shaft, a driven shaft, two friction clutches interposed between said gearingand said driven shaft, resilient means for disengaging one of said clutches, positive means for engaging said last-named clutch, and a pinion on said driven shaft adapted to engage and drive a member of an engine.

13. In an engine startena driving shaft, a ilywheel on said shaft, reduction gearing adapted to be driven by said shaft, a. driven shaft, two

friction clutches interposed between said lgearing and said driven shaft. resilient means for disengaging one of said clutches, positive means for engaging said last-named clutch, and a pinion on said driven shaft adapted to engage and drive a member of an engine.

14. In an engine starter, -a driving shaft, a flywheel on said shaft, reduction gearing substantially surrounded by said ywheel and drivably l connected to said shaft, a driven shaft, two friction clutches interposed between said gearing and said driven shaft, resilient means for disengaging one of said clutches, `positive means for engaging ysaid last-named clutch, a pinion on said shaft adapted to engage and drive a member of an engine, and frictional means for stopping said flywheel after said engine starts.

15. In an engine starter, a driving shaft, a flywheel on said shaft, reduction gearing drivably connected to said shaft, a driven shaft, two friction clutches interposed between said gearing and said driven shaft, resilient means fordisengaging one of said clutches, positive means for engaging said last-named clutch, a pinion on said shaft adapted to engage and drive a member of an engine, and frlctional means for stopping said flywheel after said engine starts.

16. In apparatus of the class described, a driving shaft, a. flywheel drivably mounted on said said shaft, a driven shaft, a pair of friction clutches interposed between said reduction gearing and said driven shaft, one of said clutches being adapted to transmit energy from said gearing to the other of said clutches up to a predetermined load value, resilient means for normally disengaging the other of said clutches, and positive means for engaging said last-named clutch for establishing a driving connection between said reduction gearing and said driven shaft.

ROMEO M. NARDONE. 

